Both sides are very much in the title mix as in what is a must-win game (7.30) for both sides as they look to chase down leaders Worcester Wolves.

Defeat for Riders would almost certainly end their hopes of retaining their league title and, while a loss for Newcastle would not be quite as catastrophic, given they hold the tie-breaker with Worcester, it would nonetheless be damaging to their chances.

"This time of year all the games are important because there are not many left," said Riders coach Rob Paternostro.

"Any time you get to this stage of the season against a team like that, it is definitely a big one."

As if to heighten the drama, the pair meet again next Friday on Tyneside in their final league encounter this season.

"I don't think (playing them twice in a row) changes the dynamic in the first game, but I think the second game will be almost like a two-legged contest where you can look back at the first one and analyse what worked and what didn't," added Paternostro.

The sides have already met in two epic battles this season, both decided by only one score.

Riders posted a stunning comeback to win the BBL Cup final and then, two weeks later, suffered heartbreak at Sports Central when, without Drew Sullivan and losing Anthony Rowe to a season-ending knee injury, they were unable to get over the line in another thrilling finish.

Paternostro said: "Both games have been great to play in and also to watch, we've played each other so many times over the last few season, there are no secrets it's just who performs better on the night.

"When you look at the second game we didn't do a good enough job of taking care of the basketball.

"In the cup final we took care of the ball much better, but in Newcastle we had a lot of turnovers.

"Also the rebounding, they killed us on the boards in that last game whereas in the game we won, we might have had a couple more rebounds than them, but it was pretty even.

"Those are the two things that were a difference between the two games."

Jamell Anderson, who played only 90 seconds for Riders in last Saturday's win against Surrey United, is rated as a 'game-time decision' by Paternostro and would be a major loss if not fit.

The Eagles have had an injury concern of late with centre Darius Defoe struggling.